John Marino

My research interests are focused in two principle areas: RNA interactions involved in gene regulation and retroviral replication and G-Protein Coupled Receptor signaling. The RNA work has focused on studies of RNA loop-loop kissing complexes derived from bacterial plasmid regulatory systems and the HIV-1 retroviral dimerization linkage site, the interaction of these RNA complexes with small auxiliary proteins and the interaction of small molecule ligands with potential RNA drug targets. The work related to G-Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) signaling, carried out in close collaboration with Dr. Kevin Ridge (University of Texas-Houston) and Prof. Danielle Brabazon (Loyola College of Maryland), has aimed to probe the structural basis for guanine nucleotide exchange in G Protein Coupled Receptor signaling. To advance our studies, we develop new NMR and fluorescence methods to facilitated characterization of the structure, dynamics and binding kinetics of these macromolecular interactions. Overall, the research in my group has been driven by the goal of applying precise and general measurement methods to define the structure, thermodynamics and kinetics of RNA structural folds, RNA-ligand complexes and protein-protein interactions at the molecular level. In addition to gaining fundamental insights into macromolecular function, our research aims to impact the fields of pharmaceutical design and development.